Riedel on The Great Comet off stage battle

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:19pm

http://nypost.com/2016/10/18/theres-an-off-stage-war-going-on-at-the-great-comet/

Shame it sounds like the cast is being put in the middle...

Updated On: 10/18/16 at 06:19 PM

[brian1973]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:23pm

Oh dear what a mess. And a bad way to start this shows run on Broadway 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:25pm

It's interesting that Josh groban can put his foot down. Is he really more powerful than the producers?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:26pm

Slow news day, huh Michael?

[brian1973]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:27pm

I bet he is. He is the star draw of this (faintly dull sounding) show.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:30pm

The show's been around for a few years. No one thinks it's dull.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:34pm

And while much of this is true, don't put it past Riedel to make a mountain out of a molehill.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:37pm

This sounds like typical Riedel "drip, drip,drip". This surely sounds like a "he said/no not there/me first" concoction; he needs to have people (duh! us) talk about this non drama.

We're going on Wednesday, we have great seats and I'm expecting something quite unusual, but I do hope it delivers. 

[brian1973]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 6:45pm

Kad said: "The show's been around for a few years. No one thinks it's dull.

 

"Im just saying it SOUNDS dull.. It needs to appeal to more than musical theatre fans  if it's to survive and withoutJosh G, it doesn't have much to sell it to the masses. I look forward to seeing it though and hopefully enjoying it.

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 7:09pm

I don't have any stake in this or any friends involved, but if the contract does indeed say it has to be billed as "The Ars Nova production of..." then I don't see why this is even a question? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 7:10pm

So what, exactly have you heard that sounds dull?  The part about it being a sliver of War & Peace?  In that case, Les Miz must have sounded dreadful too.  And only mega-successes have to reach beyond musical theater fans. (And yes, I'm truly curious about what sounded dull to you.)

It certainly didn't sound dull to all the off broadway audiences previously in NY, nor to the sold out crowds at the ART.

 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 7:24pm

This production making it to Broadway is a huge win for a non-profit like Ars Nova, and it's despicable that they'd be robbed of the credit when it's been contractually promised to them. 

If the bit about banning Ars Nova staffers from the theatre is true, that's absolutely ludicrous. Are they afraid they'll act out mid-performance?

Updated On: 10/18/16 at 07:24 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:32pm

neonlightsxo said: "I don't have any stake in this or any friends involved, but if the contract does indeed say it has to be billed as "The Ars Nova production of..." then I don't see why this is even a question? 

 

"

In many cases a contract is only as good as the willingness of the parties to abide by it. Of course, Ars Nova can sue and may well win. And the general partner can appeal, etc. By the time the matter is resolved, the attention surrounding the opening of the show, awards, etc., may have passed. Ars Nova could be awarded monetary damages, but that doesn't seem to be what it wants at the moment.

So there's the court of public opinion.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:36pm

Sigh.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:38pm

I don't see why they wouldn't just bill it like that? Are they assuming it's going to somehow hurt the show? Isn't Les Miz RSC? Was it billed as such originally? 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:44pm

neonlightsxo said: "Sigh.

 

"

You asked how there could still be an issue if the contract is clear. To the best of my ability in a short space, I answered your question. What is the problem?

I don't know you, but a lot of people assume the signatories treat a contract as Holy Writ. But the fact is thousands of lawyers are employed because, in their enthusiasm to reach an agreement, many parties treat contract clauses as mere "suggestions".

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:52pm

RippedMan said: "I don't see why they wouldn't just bill it like that? Are they assuming it's going to somehow hurt the show? Isn't Les Miz RSC? Was it billed as such originally? 

 

"

I don't know the parties involved, but looking at the "Producers Page" of the show's website, "HOWARD AND JANET KAGAN" end up with first billing and "ARS NOVA" is buried next to last. So it may be a matter of ego.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:53pm

they could get an injunction but the real cost here is in karma.

[pupscotch]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 10:58pm

I'm confused as to where Josh Groban "putting his foot down" to record has anything to do with the rest of the article. Isn't it about Ars Nova billing? And then Josh Groban pops up. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 11:00pm

Gaveston, I wasn't arguing with you. My "sigh" was at the Kagans, not at your response. Not sure what they gain by withholding the credit. 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 11:08pm

neonlightsxo said: "Gaveston, I wasn't arguing with you. My "sigh" was at the Kagans, not at your response. Not sure what they gain by withholding the credit. 

 

"

Sorry, neon, I misunderstood. I'm often accused (fairly) of being too pedantic, but I thought my response to you was pretty concise. Bottom line: what the Kagans seem to gain is the most prominent billing among the producers.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 11:09pm

dramamama611 said: "So what, exactly have you heard that sounds dull?  The part about it being a sliver of War & Peace?  In that case, Les Miz must have sounded dreadful too.  And only mega-successes have to reach beyond musical theater fans. (And yes, I'm truly curious about what sounded dull to you.)

It certainly didn't sound dull to all the off broadway audiences previously in NY, nor to the sold out crowds at the ART."

I just saw it myself and found it to be dull. So did the many people in the mezz who didn't return after intermission.

 

If he thinks it sounded dull, then let him have his opinion.

 

As to the Ars Nova issue, they had one of the last bios in the program, mixed in with arbitrary names and unfamiliar producers (cough financiers cough).

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 11:23pm

what i don't understand is why the recording of the OBCR is scheduled for the same day as whatever gala they're talking about, it seems like whoever's in charge should have known the other was happening.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 10/18/16 at 11:24pm

No, the Battle of Borodino would NEVER look like paintballl...

[chi-town_bwayfangirl]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 12:15am

theatregoer3 said: "dramamama611 said: "So what, exactly have you heard that sounds dull?  The part about it being a sliver of War & Peace?  In that case, Les Miz must have sounded dreadful too."

I just saw it myself and found it to be dull. So did the many people in the mezz who didn't return after intermission.

If he thinks it sounded dull, then let him have his opinion."

Going to see it this weekend and when I tell my friends here in Chicago I'm going to see "Natasha Pierre and the Great comet of 1812", it sounds dreadful (not knowing anything else about it). It's a long and boring title and that makes one think it would be a long and boring show. I don't generally like period pieces (1812), could care less about comets and don't think the connection to War and Peace does it any favors. The only thing I can look forward to is Josh Groban and the staging. 

 

And yes, Les Miserables is a dreadful title. Great show when word of mouth/press gets around, but not something that immediately piques my interest  

 

Just my opinion